The 80′s were a great period to grow up in. There was still the hangover of those great 60′s and 70′s bands as well as plenty of new influences like disco and synth pop. Along with the typical pop flavors however came a few unforgettable melodies that have stood the test of time. They had the adrenaline feel of rock, the simplicity of pop and the beauty of new age music and set benchmarks of their own. This list of 15 songs below are typified by their expansive but simple sound, buoyant energy and underlying feel of optimism. They are all great songs to start the day with. Feel free to have your say on any I’ve missed as well as any that shouldn’t be here!
15. Simple minds Don’t You (Forget About Me)
14. Toto Africa
13. Alan Parsons Project Eye In The Sky
12. Simple Minds Belfast Child
11. Thompson Twins Hold Me Now
10. Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes
9. Madonna Cherish
8. Tears for Fears Woman in chains
7. Pat Benetar We Belong
6. Depeche Mode Enjoy The Silence
5. Tears for Fears Head over heels
4. Pat Benatar Love Is A Battlefield
3. Simple Minds Alive And Kicking
2. George Michael Freedom! ’90
1. Simple Minds Let there be love
Contributor: heavybison
Ooh no “Walking on Sunshine” it’s the only song that makes mornings bearable.
Ember: I love that song too!
Someone likes Simple Plan!
The only one I recognise from that list is ‘Eye in the Sky’, which is *****ing AWESOME.
Loving the Simple Minds flashback, this morning is now way better than previoulsly anticipated, thanks!
Isn’t helping my typing skills however…
What no Michael Jackson? Beat It…beat that urge to punch the alarm clock and then throw it across the room.
What about “I want candy”? or Blondie, “99 Red Balloons”…is Freedom 90 an 80′s track?
hee, or “leave me alone” (Mum, I don’t wanna go to school)
Ugh! How could I forget Elton John’s “I Guess that’s Why the Call it the Blues” was an 80′s single? I must be slipping in my old age.
#satori: I admit, it’s 1990, but it’s so 80′s in feel..i had to include it to top things up.
wow great list didnt think anyone would remember the alan parsons project.
also Level 42 Something About You would have been great on here good beat to it not to mention the bass line
Ok…just wanna throw in some more that were meaningful to me…”Livin’ on a prayer” Bon Jovi- “Pour some sugar on me” Def Lepard, “Hungry like the Wolf” Duran Duran, “Summer of 69″ Brian Adams…my personal absolute fav has to be “Money Money” Billie Idol. Oh, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”. “Walk like an Egyptian” The Bangles- “Vacation” The Go Gos- “I love rock ‘n’ roll” Joan Jett- Sorry…your list got me really inspired.
And I have to mention Prince…any really but I’d say “When Doves Cry” or “Kiss” would be tops. Thanks for this list, obviously, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it!
Note to site admin: on #7, the artist and song name are reversed.
Good list, though.
satori; billy idol, wonderful house cleaning music..the kids (all pretty much grown) ***** as soon as the hear Billy blastin’; they know whats comin’.
jfrater; being raised in the ’70′s was even better; I had friends whose siblings were actual hippies. Guess what we found in the pocket of the borrowed peasant skirt? Grade 7 french was never the same! (our french teacher was stunned; smoked it right out the portable window)
over 1/2 the links are dead already! BOO!
I am way too old. I can sing along with all these tunes. Come to think about it, I can sing along with every tune you ever hear on the radio….
depressing…..
Taipans: try again – sometimes they fail – I tested them all before posting this morning
Freedom, and Enjoy the Silence, are to die for, Timeless classics. Imagine how much George must have payed the supermodels to be in his video. That video, is a zenith in supermodeldoom.
A-Ha “Take on Me” and Men at Work “Down Under” are two of my faves from the 80s. Great list!!
Big Country’s “In A Big Country” or The Waterboys’ “Whole Of The Moon” are also strong contenders.
Wow. It’s amazing how many of these I know considering when 1990 hit I was only 4 years old. Horray for Depeche Mode!
Mom424: That’s not depressing. That’s cool. I wish I could sing along with every tune on the radio. I can’t remember songs to save my life. About the only songs I remember are the Hip Hop songs my wife loves . . . alright, I admit it, she got me hooked on them too.
Depeche Mode is indeed a great band!!
Mystern; my family wishes I didn’t. I love to sing, but trust me, I won’t be trying out for the met any time soon…
The Lullaby thing never worked for me, the kids’ would cry louder….lol
i love 80′s music andtought ur list was great till i got to #2
George micheal? really ive never understood why people like him
What no Wham! “I’m your Man” is my mobile tune. It always make me happy….
#me: It’s the song, not the man..
What was that gay “before you go go” Wham tune?
I used to laugh every time I saw the video or heard the tune….tooooo fruity
I could never get over the Depeche Mode posturing, always reminded me of a Mike Myers skit on either SCTV or Saturday Night Live….
wake me up before you go-go
#Mom424: “Wake me up(before you go)”
That was embarrasing.
huge, used to make me squirmy for him
there was also bananarama, made me embarrassed to be female
A lot of these songs are slow starters. I like a more upbeat morning. They are all great songs from the 80′s though.
Looks like someone needs a larger music selection.
Okay, weird idea for a list, but I can get behind it, since New Wave is dear to my heart, having been a teen during the original punk movement, and having graduated high school in 1983.
But right off the top of my head, my choice for an 80′s morning tune has got to be “I Melt With You” by Modern English… my mind was turning around a few songs by the English Beat and the Psychedelic Furs, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Cure… but I’d still have to settle back on “I Melt With You.” In early ’84 when I was in college, I was dating this gorgeous brunette–love of my life, of course–that big college relationship, you know what I mean… and “I Melt With You” was one of “our” songs—we used to grab each other and run to the dance floor whenever a DJ played it at one of the local clubs.
Whenever I hear that thing, it still makes me happy. Hell of an awesome tune. Gets you going no matter when you hear it.
How about that 80′s tune by Men without Hats – “We can Dance if we want to”.
Love the songs on this list but a good morning song is Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham.
Definitely not the best band of the 80′s but a great morning song nonetheless.
Ember: Surprisingly, I heard “Walking on Sunshine” this morning in the work bathroom while I was taking my shower. You’re right, great morning song!
Bette Davis Eyes is one of my favorite songs EVER. It won the Grammy the year I was born (82)
Wow,Don’t forget about me was a heartbreaker,I was seriously in love with this cute 18 year old and I was 15,she had to move back to her parents house across the usa and we lost contact and that song killed me everytime I heard it,I actually used to turn the dial if it came on because it reminded me of her soo much,it killed me when I heard it.The 80′s were amazing.
what about bill withers “lovely day” or dexy’s midnight runners “come on eileen”? excellent getting the energy flowing music.
My morning 80s tunes were *slightly* different:
Welcome to the Jungle- Guns N Roses
Battery- Metallica
Caught in a Mosh- Anthrax
One- Metallica
My Michelle- Guns N Roses
Antisocial- Anthrax
Manic Monday- The Bangles
For Those About to Rock…- AC/DC
*****in Camero- Dead Milkmen
Peace Sells, But Who’s Buying- Megadeth
Higher Ground- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Good tunes on your list, just not the jump starters I needed.
#unhustler: honestly, thats kinda more like my morning list too *shhh*
This list reminds me that I am overdue for an 80s party!
unhustler: the comedy of your list is awesome. not the songs mind you, just that a little bangles is slipped into the list of thrash rock. i wonder what anthrax and megadeath would think about being grouped with the ladies
Skater punk in the 80s, mild mannered daddy in the 00s, silence is the best sound in the morning now, lol
Okay, I like Simple Minds as well, but in they’re weighing in a bit heavily here. Madness! No, I mean the group Madness – how can anything be more upbeat than most Madness songs? I’d list House of Fun or One Step Beyond. Also, gotta have Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen, and Big Country – In a Big Country.
This list is kind of lame without any commentary. Anyone agree? 4 Simple minds in the top 15 deserves an explanation!
Worst List Ever!
here’s bill making the day bright…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2DnUxLISFcA
and dexy getting me excited…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7z9bPrUark4
JF: Wait! An 80′s party? Can I come? I’ll bring my wife and she can do her hair up into an afro!
Mystern, nobody wore afros in the 80s. Please. Big hair, yes. Afros, no.
afro reminds me of pam grier now..
Randall: Okay then fine. Please see comment number 23 on this list. I wasn’t really around. But that being said my wife can just as easily do big hair.
Wow! This just triggered some memories of how bad some of the ’80s music really was. NOt as bad as some of the arena rock *****e that was from the ’70s but bad nonetheless.
The first song I thought of when I saw this list was “Walking on Sunshine”! I was scrolling down the page, knowing that it had to be #1.
BOOO! (in the nicest way possible)
I vote it be added as an honorable mention, at the very least!
You forgot Manic Monday by the Bangles, also Where’s the love for Fleetwood Mac, I listen to Gypsy,and be with you almost everymorning.
I think I hear almost every one of these songs almost every day on our local radio station. Sorry to burst the bubble but the only ones I can still handle to listen to are “Don’t Your (Forget About Me), and Depeche Mode (which I never get tired of).
Mystern:
Hey, historical accuracy is important. Key to the 80s was, we (who were young adults in the 80s) hated and were in rebellion against everything 70s and everything baby-boom and everything hippie-related. Afros were therefore tres declasse, along with bell-bottoms; tie-dyes; beads… you get the idea.
Not enough simple minds.
The artist and song title are switched on #7
Oh noes
Randall: Yes I do get the idea. Thanks for correcting me. I was a 90′s child and thus consider myself to have diplomatic immunity concerning foolish statements concerning other decades.
How about the Smiths? “This charming man”? I guess you could include “How soon is now”, but a little depressing in the morning. Actually, any Smiths is depressing in the morning, unless it’s “Panic”. I am so on board with the Dexy’s Midnight Runners guys! SO ON BOARD!